Steel Masters all set

The Tata Steel Masters, which ushers in the chess calendar for the new year, gets underway Jan. 10-26 in the Dutch coastal town of Wijk aan Zee.

Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen, who has yet to lose a classical game since January 2019, will be seeking to win the top prize for the seventh time, and will be in position (with 107 games) to tie or break the 110 classical games unbeaten record set by Dutch GM Sergei Tiviakov. Carlsen’s dominant form was again on display last week in Moscow where he dominated both the rapid and blitz world championships.

Other big names this year included Candidates qualifiers Fabiano Caruana (USA) and local hero Anish Giri, world No. 10 Wesley So (USA) and former world champion Vishy Anand of India. 

They will be joined by the likes of Poland’s 21-year-old Jan-Krzysztof Duda, ranked 16th in the world, world No. 19 Nikita Vitiugov of Russia and Chinese stalwart Yu Yangi, all poised to be in the hunt for top honors.

Also on the list and expected to provide stiff competition are 2019 world rapid runner-up   Alireza Firouzja, 16, an Iranian-born now living in France, reigning European champion Vladislav  Artemiev, 21, of Russia and 19-year-old American rising star Jeffrey Xiong.

Daniil Dubov, 23,  (Russia), Vladislav Kovalev, 25,  (Belarus) and local bet Jorden van Forest, 21, rounded out the top 14.

* * * *

This is a fine struggle, full of captivating points, between two young talents. Duda, 21, had a grand time. The Iranian teenager (who played under the FIDE flag),  was given no quarter. World Rapid Championship 2019 round 05

W) A. Firouzja (Fide)

B) J. Duda (Poland)

Pirc Defense

1. e4              d6 

2. d4              Nf6 

3. Nc3            g6

This the Pirc Defense, named after the well-known Yugoslav GM Vasja Pirc (1907-1980), has not been popular among leading players in recent years owing to the strong center Pawns White obtains in the opening, which establishes a bridgehead for middle game offensive. 

4. f4               ....

The aggressive Austrian Attack, builds White a powerful Pawn center

4....                Bg7 

5. Nf3             O-O 

6. Bd3            Nc6

This is the standard reply, though 6... Na6, is a fair alternative with chances for equality.

7. e5              dxe5 

8. dxe5           ....

After 8. fxe5 Nh5 9. Be3 f6, White probably enjoys a slight edge in the ensuing middle game 

8....                Nd5

9. Nxd5           ....

9. Bd2 Nb6  10. Qe2 Nb4 11. Be4 f5!?, leads to unclear  consequences.

9....                Qxd5

10. Qe2          Bg4 

11. Be4           Qa5ch

12. Bd2           Qb6 

13. Bc3            ....

Leaving the King stuck in the center is not commendable. Preferable is the normal 13. 0-0-0.

13....               Rad8 

14. h3              Bxf3 

15. Qxf3           Nd4 

16. Qg3            f6

17. Bd3            fxe5 

18. O-O-O        ....

Seems forced  as 18. fxe5 Bh6  will put White’s uncastled King in danger. However, the text loses two Pawns without compensation. 

16..                 exf4 

19. Qg4            Qc5 

20. Rhe1          Nc6 

With two extra Pawns and a solid position, Black has a win.

21. Qe6ch        Kh8

22. Bxg7ch       Kxg7

23. Kb1            Rf6 

24. Qg4            Ne5 

25. Qg5            Rd5 

26. Be2?           ....

This move loses more material. 26. Be4 probably put up a longer resistance though Black should win after 26....Rxd1ch 27. Rxd1 h6 28. Qh4 Nc4 29. Bd3 Ne3, etc.

26....                Nd3 

27. Qxd5          Qxd5 

28. Bf3             Qxf3!

The simple finishing touch, which transposes into a decisive Rook and Pawn ending. 

29. Rxe7ch       Kf8 

30. gxf3            Kxe7 

31. Rxd3          Rd6 

0-1

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White to play and win.

White=Kf7, Pg3,Ph2

Black=Kh8, Pa7, Pg5

1. g4!!              Kh7

If 1....a5 2. h4 gxh4 3. g5 h6 4. g6 h7 5. g7ch Kh7 6. g8Qch Kh6 7. Qg6 mate.

2. h4                Kh6

2....gxh4 is met by 3. g5.

3. Kf6               Kh7

4. h5                 ....

Not 4. hxg5? Kg8! and Black draws.

4.....                 a5

5. Ke5              1-0

* * * *

Black to move and win.